O For The Wings Of A Dove

From St. Andrew's Church to Houghall College and then Beamish Museum last year, the night skies have been kind to us till now as we joined about 80 others participating in the Centrepoint Sleepout at the Aircraft Museum in Washington on November 6th, writes John Pattinson.

It was a time to meet up with fellow "sufferers" and meet up with some from previous years as we gathered under heavy skies once again to show our solidarity with those who have so little, those for whom life has been dealt cruel blows of misfortune and reflect during a cold wet night on the "pint of life" that positively overflows, the good fortune that my life has been. Not a time to let the discomfort of a restless night take away from the positive and wonderful work that God is doing through the work of Centrepoint, the charity focussed on the homeless and disadvantaged young people in society, not least in Sunderland and the North East.

Lights around the aircraft hangar greeted us as Dick, Ralph and myself arrived to be greeted by laughter and happy faces bustling around to build shelters for the night out of cardboard boxes, string and tape. A competition for the best shelter though our efforts under an aircraft wing, held together by string did not withstand the rigours of a windy night. But food and hot drinks and a trip around the aircraft museum filled in the time as well as listening to the performance of a live band, their musical extravaganza booming and echoing around the hangar for all to hear.

Time to bed down for the night, a chilling thought as we gazed at our ruined cardboard shelter and headed down in the pitch black to sleep underneath the wings of the vulcan bomber. Dick and Ralph bedded down well under the wing on the hard ground while I moved nearer the edge, the ground seemed a bit softer, kinder on the back, so I thought. So there we were wrapped up in sleeping bags and inside the Centrepoint's own paper bags, hoping morning would not be too far away.

It was not too cold a night as one reflected upon the "mad" things one does in life. I was reminded in the night hour of Mendelssohn's famous prayer, "O for the wings of a dove." Words that seemed appropriate to the situation one found oneself in. "Far away would I rove! In the wilderness build me a nest, And remain there forever at rest." Our nest was a sleeping bag, our rest a few hours of fitful sleep till the light of the new day dawned. Under the wings of an aircraft, the wings of the dove of God's love surrounded us and kept us safe as if under the shadow of his wing.

Yet the image of the dove soaring high, for me is a symbol of the transformative and life changing work that happens on our doorstep, in Dundas Street in our parish, as the work of Centrepoint continues day by day. It was time to reflect on how these young people and the Centrepoint staff have enriched our lives through the last 12 months. From their involvement in the crib service last Christmas to the North East Passion televised event last Good Friday. The "Centrepoint's Got Talent" night in the Priestman hall and many areas of parish life through which we are truly blessed.

I woke at 5.30 a.m.to be greeted by the noise of the wind howling through the trees, not the rector snoring as I first thought, and the drip, drip, drip of the rain cascading off the wing on to my sleeping bag. Time to move further under the wing and a bit more shelter and then to leave after another hour of fitful sleep. 

 

I enjoyed and appreciated my cosy bed the next night though thoughts went out to the homeless enduring what I had endured but for them every night. May I thank everyone in the parish who has contributed financially to this sponsored Centrepoint event. It is much appreciated. Thankyou.

 

To donate to Centrepoint's Christmas Appeal, visit http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/news-events/our-appeals/christmas-appeal

John Pattinson LIVE - not to be missed!

Here We Go Again

(c) John Pattinson 2014

The sun is shining, the scaffolding reaching heavenwards, and a smile of happiness permeates from an inner joy within myself, writes John Pattinson. Perhaps I am the only person delighting in the sight before me as I am greeted with, "not more scaffolding" from onlookers beside me. It has been a blissful summer without scaffolding both inside and outside the church as the last project of window replacement fades in the memory, as if consumed by the warmth of days gone by.

Now the next phase of work is beginning, a process that has taken much planning since early last year to reach this point of a new beginning. So many people involved from architect and contractors, Durham Advisory Committee and Registry, not least the support and help from Heritage Lottery Fund, various trust funds and the church congregation. A wonderful example of many gifts coming to fruition to achieve much needed restoration work.

The south transept "Lady Chapel" window will be the first work to be done. The aim is to renew the stained glass window protection which is in a sorry, dangerous state. Alas, the scaffolding in the Lady Chapel will put it out of action until Christmas. The church has suffered badly from water ingress over the years and new wider rainwater pipes will be added to the south transept and pointing work to the roof. Hopefully by Christmas the first phase of work will be complete.

(c) John Pattinson 2014

March next year will see work recommence and continue into the summer. The last two windows in the church on the south nave will be renewed, alas a process which will cause more disruption to church life as we have experienced in the past. There will also be a new ladder from the tower for easier roof access, pointing work to north parapets and transepts, new rainwater pipes and drainage and new roof walkboards to complete the work.

Once this work has been completed then an industrial clean of the church is envisaged. A much needed project for the many in church who have endured the sight of the clouds of dust enveloping the church interior. At this point in time the restoration of the William Morris carpet will take place.

Much work has been achieved in the last few years which largely has been to restore  the nave, chancel and transepts of the church. Restoration that has produces a new brightness and quality of light to the church interior. A ray of light illuminating the lives of all who enter this sacred space, visitors and worshippers alike, caught up in the glory of that which greets the eye and like the scaffolding pointing heavenwards. As we are reminded by those "hidden" words of invitation, (to the right of the main entrance); "Whosoever thou art that enterest this church, leave it not without one prayer to God, for thyself, & for those who worship here."

 A further application for funding will be made for work on the tower which if successful will take place in 2016. But for now we are thankful to all who have contributed to this project.

 

 

Local Illustrator Set For First Solo Exhibition

St. Andrew's own Gill Gill is set to take Durham by storm with her first solo exhibition this summer.

 

The freelance illustrator, who designed the Parish logo and is renowned for her stunning Northern landscapes and seascapes, will be displaying her work at The Café on The Green, Durham City, from 1st to the 31st August.

 

Below are just a few examples of her amazing work, and more can be found on her website - http://www.gillgillillustration.co.uk/

 

Durham Cloisters (c) Gill Gill



Puffin Watch (c) Gill Gill



Berneray Sands (c) Gill Gill

Roll out the Red Carpet

Well maybe not quite a red carpet, but good news concerning the carpet that adorns the
chancel in St. Andrew's church.

A carpet that has beckoned over a century of worshippers to the high altar in communion with one another at the Lord's table. I am of course referring to the William Morris carpet, a masterpiece of the Arts and Craft movement, from a textile designer who saw carpet weaving as a fine art to produce a carpet with its rich gradations of colour and text.

If only a carpet could reveal its footprints over time, from hobnail boots to the latest high heels of fashion and a few giggles from choirboys, as on bended knee someone forgot to remove the price tag from their latest acquisition. The young and the old of each generation, winter and summer having trod upon the carpet on that same faithful pathway to share in the heavenly feast.

It's remarkable how the carpet has stood up to the test of time but like human ageing it can become a bit frayed at the edges. Some unique woven patterns now threadbare at the edges, alas even a hole punctuating its woven beauty, just like our lives are woven into the fabric of God's creation in need of healing and repair.

A well known figure, a few years ago, stood upon that carpet looking round at the wonder and beauty of that which adorns the church, a cathedral to the Arts and Craft movement. He commented on his own William Morris carpet in his home. And now almost full circle that person has agreed to fund the repair of the carpet.

As a church we are thankful to the work of the Church Building Trust and Anne Sloman and Pedro Gaspar in particular who have successfully found funding for the carpet repair. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has agreed to provide those funds.

Our thanks to all concerned as we look forward to the rolling out of the red carpet when all the dust has settled on window repair, a carpet of exquisite fine art but more importantly its place in the chancel of praise to the wonder and beauty of our God, Jesus Christ, our Superstar.


John Pattinson

For more information on the Andrew Lloyd Webber Trust, visit http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/

 

Bishop boots up to combat poverty

The Right Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham has put his boots on to combat poverty and tread in pilgrim’s footsteps, walking the historic Bede Way in support of Christian Aid today (Saturday 14th June) writes Keith Blundy.



(c) Keith Blundy

Bishop Paul with Christian Aid supporters boot up to combat poverty.

Bishop Paul along with a large group of other Christian Aid supporters and the Revd Leo Osborn, Chair of Newcastle Methodist District set out on the route between the Anglo-Saxon twin monastic sites of St Peter’s, Monkwearmouth, and St Paul’s, Jarrow to raise money in the fight against global poverty.


Bishop Paul said: “I have always been an active supporter of Christian Aid, so when they asked me to take part in the Bede’s Way Sponsored Walk I was delighted to accept. Over the last few years, I have been doing prayer walks… taking part in the Christian Aid Bede’s Way Walk will be my own prayer walk and I am really looking forward to it.”

The twelve mile route follows the route between the two monasteries that the Venerable Bede once described as ‘One monastery in two place’ back in the 7th Century, for many this pilgrim trail is equal significance to those in the North and South.

Benedict Biscop, a Northumbrian noble, founded the monastery of St Peter in 674 and its twin house of St Paul was begun eight years later.

For more news from the Diocese of Durham, visit their Newsroom.

"Into The Woods" A Triumph!

St. Andrew's Church Wednesday June 4th

I was young once, full of youthful energy and vitality. Well that's what the memory cells tell me, though perhaps distorted over time a few decades later. Yet it was the exuberant youthfulness of the cast of performers who descended upon St. Andrew's last Wednesday morning that will live in the memory. Sunderland university students, many studying performing arts degrees, who enriched the worship space in the church through their performance of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods."

Informed sources describe the musical as one of the most difficult of musicals to master and perform well, not least having to adapt to the space within the church. A musical of characters from Little Red Riding Hood to Jack and the Beanstalk. From the baker to the wicked witch and Rapunzel dominating the pulpit, in the fantasy world of Grimm's fairytale characters brought to life in word and song, to the triumph of good over evil. Perhaps a poignant time as the church moves from the triumph of Jesus' resurrection to empowering of God's goodness at Pentecost, the coming of God's Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and to us today.

One can only describe our engagement with the university students as a triumph, not least the relationships being built up with them and Professor Graeme Danby their musical director, an international opera singer. The quality of performance was mind blowing in the God given abilities in these young people performing at the highest level with an exuberance and maturity beyond their years.

Not only the performances but in the many conversations, listening and engaging with them was a positive experience for the church. The many questions asked about the church, of our faith and belief, to their hopes and aspirations for what the future may bring. For many it was a bitter-sweet moment, emotions were running high, as for many the curtain was coming down on their time at university, a new phase of life yet to begin. Not least the fact that their performances were being marked as part of their university degree courses.

There has been much positive feedback from the students as well as those who attended the performances, not least to our lives being enriched through their presence in church. I bumped into Paul, one of the cast, on the Metro yesterday and his parting word to me was "Thankyou," one small word that means so much.

We look forward to the return of Graeme and his students who will perform a Christmas concert in the church in December.

From one, young at heart.

John Pattinson

For more pictures, click here!